File-cabinet.



No. 744,276. PTENTED NOV. 17, 1903.

l L-H. ATHEY.

PILE CABINET.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 5, 1902.

UNITED STATES Patented November 1'7, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC I-I. ATHEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO RAILWAY-COMMER- CIALCABINET AND FILE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORA- TION OFILLINOIS.

FILE-CABINET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 744,276, dated November1'7, 1903. Application filed August 5, 1902. Serial No. 118,43 7. (Nomodel.)

4ing letters, documents, catalogues, tariffs,

and other business papers in order that ready access may be had theretofor reference or removal.

The object of my invention beyond providing means for a simple andeffective filing system is the construction of a cabinet provided withremovable compartments or receptacles of a character to afford accessvto the interior of each with the least eort and in the shortest possibletime. l

Among the objections to the file-cabinets equipped with ordinary drawersor sliding receptacles now in general use is the loss of time caused bythe frequent necessity for the entire removal of thedrawer or if butpartially removed the necessity of handling the contents over a ixedfront end.

In addition to economy of time and labor a further object of myinvention is the-construction of a cabinet-frame' in which drawers orreceptacles of different depths and capacities may be usedinterchangeably to facilitate and simplify both manufacture and USG.

In a general way my invention consists in a drawer or sliding receptaclecorresponding in construction to a drawer of ordinary or usual patternexcept in that the front or exposed side thereof comprises a separatemember pivotally connected to the receptacle proper and free to drop outof the way when the handle is released after the drawer is partiallywithdrawn; and my invention further consists in simple means to retainthe drop-front in place when the drawer is closed, permit of a free dropwhen the drawer is partially withdrawn, and necessitate the return ofthe front i to place by the act of closing; and my invention furtherconsists in the construction of a cabinet-frame in which receptacles 'ofdierent depths with certain restrictions may be used interchangeably;and my invention further consists in the various details of constructionand in combinations of parts, all as hereinafter described, andparticularly pointed out inthe claims.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and inwhich- Figure lis a View in perspective of a drawer or receptacleembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with thefront closed. Fig. 3 is a view in perspective, part broken away, of acabinet, illustrating the manner in which drawers of different depthsmay be interchangeably used in the same frame.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, I have shown a file-cabinetdrawer or receptacle open both front and top, the bottom 2 of whichprojects slightly beyond each side throughout a portion of its length toprovide the slides 3 3, adapted to be insertedwithin grooves 4 4 in anysuitable cabinet-frame. Pivotally attached to the exterior of each ofthe sides 5 of said drawer, preferably by means of the small plates 6 6and the screws 7 and 8, are the similar triangular-shaped plates 9 9,which carry at their extremities, attached in any suitable manner, thefront 10 of said drawer. These connectingr v means should be so adjustedthat when the front 10 lis closed, as indicated in Fig. 2, the drawershould have the general appearance and character of the ordinaryfour-sided receptacle, said front being free,however,to drop through anarc of at least ninety degrees when the handle 1l, with which it ispreferably provided, is released.

It will be noted that when the drop-front 10 is in place the lower edgesof the plates 9 9 form substantially a continuation of the line formedby the lower edges of the sides. These lower edges of the plates 9 9 areoutwardly bent at right angles to provide slides l2 12, forming when thefront 10 is closed substantially a continuation of the slides 3 3. Theseslides l2 l2 follow the slides 3 3 into the grooves 4:, necessitatingthe closing of the front 10 when the drawer is returned to place andwhen within said grooves supporting the front 10.

The screws 7 through the plates 6 6 also pass through the extremities ofthe plates 9 9 and form the bearings on which said plates rotate. Theplates 6 6 are preferably somewhat elongated in order that they may formsuitable stops against which the extremities of the slides 12 l2 strikeat the end of a quadrant of rotation. Each plate 6 may be provided Withthe recess 13 to more positively engage the ends of said slides andprevent the bending or twisting of the thin metal. 'Ihe additional screw8 serves to more rigidly hold said plate in place.

I prefer that the upper front corners 14 14 of the receptacle propershall be cutaway to avoid sharp edges and facilitate access to thecontents. I have also shown the front edge of the bottom 2 provided witha recess l5 for a similar purpose.

It is apparent that by providing a suitable cabinet-frame the interiorheight of which is, for example, twelve inches or some multiple thereofand providing grooves located one inch apart drawers of two, three,four, and six inches in depth may be to a certain extent interchangeablyused, it being only necessary that the total height of the tier ofdrawers be twelve inches or the multiple thereof selected. Thus threetwo-inch and two three-inch drawers or one six-inch and three two-inchdrawers could be used within the same frame or various combinationswherein the combined depth of the tier amounts to the fixed total. I amable to avail myself of this feature of interchangeability on account ofthe construction of my receptacles, which are provided with longitudinalprojections slidable in grooves in the frame instead of requiringinwardly-projecting supports on the inner faces of said frame.

Many modifications of the minor details of my improved file-cabinet willdoubtless readilysuggest themselves to those skilledin the art to whichit appertains, and I therefore do not desire to limit my invention tothe specic construction herein shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. In a file-cabinet, the combination, with a framehaving side supports, of a drawer, a front for said drawer, andpivotally-movable drawer and front connections provided with lateralframe-engaging bearings,said connections being adapted to support saidfront upon the drawer when open and in the sides of the frame whenclosed.

2. In a file-cabinet, the combination, with a frame provided withsuitable side supports, of a drawer, a drop-front for said drawer, anddrawer connections provided with bearing-flanges at the ends of saidfront and adapted to support the latter horizontally upon the drawer andvertically in said side supports.

3. In a file-cabinet, the combination, with a frame provided withdrawer-supporting grooves in its vertical sides, of a drawer, a movablefrontfor said drawer, and means for supporting said front in saidgrooves.

4. In a file-cabinet, the combination, with a frame provided withgrooves in its vertical sides, of a drawer, a movable front for saiddrawer, and anged drawer and front connecting members adapted to supportsaid front in said grooves.

5. In a file-cabinet, the combination, with a frame provided withdrawer-guide grooves, of a drawer having groove-engaging anges, and adrop-front for said drawer carried by plates paralleling and pivotallysecured to the sides of said drawer, said plates being provided withanges substantially forming, when the drawer is closed, continuations ofthe drawer-supporting flanges.

6. In a tile-cabinet, the combination, with a frame provided withdrawer-guide grooves, of a drawer the bottom of which projects beyondeach side thereof throughout a portion of its length to formslide-supports for said drawer, and a drop-front for said drawerrotatively carried by plates paralleling and pivotally secured to saidsides, said plates being provided with flanges which form, when thefront is in place, substantially continuations of said slide-supports.

7. In a file-cabinet, the combination, with a suitable frame providedwith drawer-guide grooves, of a drawer having longitudinallycoextensivesides and bottom and a front, said front being provided withgroove-engaging flanges, adapted to support same in closed position.

8. In a lecabinet, the combination, with a frame having suitabledrawer-guide grooves, of a drawer having longitudinally-coextensivesides and bottom, a fixed groove-engaging Hange projecting laterallyfrom the bottom portion of said drawer and terminating short of itsforward end, and a front for said drawer adapted to swing underneath thebottom thereof, said front being fixed upon pivoted, hanged platesadapted to support said front in its closed or normal position and toguide the same into place as the drawer is closed.

9. In a file-cabinet, the combination, with a frame provided with aplurality of equidistant, oppositely-located, horizontal grooves, of aplurality of drawers the bottom of each of which projects beyond eachside thereof throughout a portion of4 its length to form slide-supportsfor said drawer slidable within any pair of oppositely-located groovesin said frame, the front or exposed end of each drawer being a separatemember adapted to swing under the bottom of said drawer and connected tothe body portion thereof by pivoted plates paralleling the sides of saiddrawer, the lower edges of said plates being outwardly bent to formsubstantially detached continuations of said slide-supports.

10. A file-cabinet drawer comprising a re- IOO IIO

ceptacle open top and front, the bottom of and adapted to support saidfront when the drawer is closed.

11. A tile-cabinet drawer comprising a receptacle open top and front andprovided with slide-supports 3, the drop-front l0 adapted to swing underthe bottom of the drawer and pivotally connected to the sides thereof byplates 9 having projections 12 which vform substantially continuationsof said slide-supports when said front is' in place, and the plates 6 toengage the ends of the projections l2 and stop rotation.

In testimony of the foregoing I have heref unto set my hand, this 7thday of July, 1902, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

f ISAAC H. ATHEY. Witnesses:

A. G. STUBBS, F. P. BLACKMAN.

